Jacksonville Zoo Land of the Tiger

Jacksonville Zoos Land of the Tiger

Land of the Tiger is a 2.5 acre expansion of the Jacksonville Zoos Asian Exhibit. This section opened on Mar 8th of 2014. Animal Wellness was the forefront of this exhibit design and features allow the animal's choice of enclosure via trail systems and encourages exploration and exercise.

In 2015 Jacksonville Zoos Land of the Tiger won three awards. The AZA Exhibit Award for Significant Achievement as well as two awards from the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association.

Landscape design mimics that of a river ecosystem. There are 57 different plant species, as well as animal species including Malayan and Sumatran Tigers we find the homes of Babirusas, Small-Clawed Otters, Visayan Warty Pigs , Wreathed & Rhinoceros Hornbills as well as Komodo Dragons.

The Land of the Tiger provides Tigers with variety of choice as well as opportunities for exercise and exploration. For instance, Tigers in the overhead trails can observe the prey species in the nearby yards. These Tigers are able to leave their enclosures and travel through a tiger trail system, where they can pass overhead through a artificial strangler fig tree, or you might spot them in the rafters of the second exhibit building. These Tiger Trails also go behind both the east and west yards.

The design of the Tiger Habitats is to guarantee that every guest visiting the Land of the Tiger will see a tiger. The Tigers are given access to different areas at varying times throughout the day, be sure to check the Bamboo Node near the entrance of the Strangler Fig Tree, overhead in the rafters, as well as the many spots for them to rest in their two yards.

Features include a lure system in the trail system to stimulate the tigers into activity. Water jets in the deep pools introduce current. The Tiger holding building has six interconnected rooms, a training stage built behind the donor recognition wall that can be closed off with sliding door.

Animals we will encounter as we trek through the Land of the Tiger

Rhinoceros Hornbill - Both males and females of this species are similar in appearance, with white tail feathers and black feathers on their body and wings. Males will have an red or orange ring around their eyes, females will have a white ring.

Wreathed Hornbill - The males of this species will weigh up to 8 pounds and have yellow throat skin, females will reach weights of six pounds and the throat skin will be blue. Wreathed hornbills also have specialized knobs on their beaks, called casques.

Visayan Warty Pig - This species is a relatively small species of pig. Having a short neck and legs, small eyes, large snout and tusks. Males of this species reach weights of up to 88lbs, some males have reached 178lbs and females will be smaller in both length and weight. Their name comes from the three pairs of facial warts found on the males. Both have tufts of hair on the crowns of their head, males grow theirs out into a mane during mating season. This species also has a distinctive white stripe along the bridge of their nose and jaw.

Sumatran Tigers - are the smallest subspecies of tiger in the world, Males will grow to a maximum of 9 feet in length and in general will weigh between 165-300lbs. Their stripes are narrower than those of other species and they also have a larger mane than most other subspecies.

The Malayan Tigers - have only been recognized as a subspecies since 2004, previously they were considered Indochinese Tigers. The male was originally from Palm Beach Zoo and the Female was brought in from Busch Gardens Tampa.

Small-Clawed Otters - named for their tiny claws that aid them in better handing of their prey. They primarily inhabit watery habitats that provide shallows or pools for hunting and where they can den along the banks. On Dec 28th of 2019 a litter of four otters were born at the zoo, making this the second birth of the species at the Zoo.

Babirusa - This is the largest of the three species of babirusa. The male of this species can easily be distinguished from the females by their large, curving upper canines, which protrude from the upper jaw and penetrate trough the skin of the nose. The lower canines also protrude but do not break through the skin.

Komodo Dragon - Native to only a few small Indonesian Islands the Komodo Dragon can reach lengths of up to 10 feet and weight more than 300 lbs. These are the heaviest lizards on the Planet.

Thank you for joining me on this Trek through Land of the Tiger! -Brad

Here's another Jacksonville Zoo Exhibit for you to enjoy:
African Forest -    • African Forest | Jacksonville Zoo and...